Experts collect seeds from critically endangered Faye's white beam tree in Somerset
Tree experts have collected seeds from the critically endangered Faye's white beam, found only on cliffs at Burrington Combe and Cheddar in Somerset, to grow new plants and store a seed bank backup.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Experts in Somerset have collected seeds from a critically endangered tree that is found only in a small number of places in the county.
The Faye's white beam, known scientifically as Sorbus feiana, grows on cliffs and steep edges at Burrington Combe on the Mendips and in nearby Cheddar. A team from Westonbirt Arboretum climbed down the cliff faces to reach the trees and gather fruit containing seeds.
The tree is thought to favour these exposed sites because they are safer from grazing animals, including the goats at Cheddar Gorge. It is special to the area and important for the local ecosystem.
The species was discovered by botanist Libby Houston. She is in her mid-80s and took part in the search, climbing four cliff edges. She said she remained interested in rare trees and how they present themselves. She also warned that the tree's small populations and the presence of disease meant it could be wiped out.
Rosie and her team collected the fruit. The seeds inside will be taken back to Westonbirt. Some will be grown at Westonbirt Arboretum, while others will be preserved in a seed bank for many years as a backup for the species.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, grouped by how many channels reported each one. Select a dot to see the source excerpt.
| Claim |  |
|---|---|
| Only on one channel | |
| Some collected Faye's white beam seeds will be grown at Westonbirt Arboretum, while others will be stored in a seed bank as a backup. | |
| The critically endangered tree Faye's white beam is found on cliffs and steep edges in Cheddar and Burrington Combe. | |
| Tree experts from Westonbirt Arboretum collected seeds from Faye's white beam by climbing down cliffs. | |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
The channel focused on the conservation effort and the dramatic cliff habitat, following tree experts from Westonbirt Arboretum as they collected Faye's white beam seeds at Burrington Combe. It gave space to botanist Libby Houston, who discovered the tree and is still climbing cliff edges in her mid-80s. The tone was warm and personal, with the rarity of the tree and the threat of disease driving the report.
- “We're right on the top here of Burrington Combe with a massive drop below us.”
- “Behind me is Faye's white beam, so Sorbus feiana as we know it scientifically. It's a critically endangered tree.”
- “Because there's a disease around, so these trees are very small populations, it is a worry because they could be wiped out.”
Broadcast Timeline
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